UFC fans looking to get back into the sportsbook action can look forward to UFC Fight Night 93. Even though it doesn’t have the same hype as UFC 202 the upcoming MMA event is bound to provide jaw-clenching knockouts, bloody bouts, and above all the chance to bet on UFC. The official fight card has already been released and, while it is subject to change, fans can begin to look forward to the bouts that capture their attention. Let’s take a look.
UFC Fight Night 93
Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jan Blachowicz
Ryan Bader vs. Ilir Latifi
Nick Hein vs. Tae Hyun Bang
Jessin Ayari vs. Jim Wallhead
Peter Sobotta vs. Nicolas Dalby
Taylor Lapilus vs. Leandro Issa
Jarjis Danho vs. Christian Colombo
Scott Askham vs. Jack Hermansson
Rustam Khabilov vs. Leandro Silva
Martin Buschkamp vs. Alex Enlund
Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Veronica Macedo
Even though this isn’t the UFC’s first stint in Germany it will be the first time the promotional company is hosting an event in Hamburg. The official event will be held on September 3rd at the Barclaycard Arena and will be headlined by the matchup between two heavyweights, Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett. There are plenty of other eye-catching bouts on this fight card but none that pit two former UFC Champions against each other.
Both Arlovski and Barnett have had similar careers. They were both contributing fighters to the UFC’s start, both won the UFC Heavyweight Championship, and both parted ways with the UFC shortly after, electing to go elsewhere. Even now, with their UFC return, both fighters are still posting similarities. Barnett is officially ranked #8 in the UFC Heavyweight rankings while Arlovski is ranked #7. No wonder the sportsbooks have ranked this match so evenly.
Arlovski came back into the UFC late September 2014 and had a very impressive resurgence. After winning four in a row many thought he was the next contender for the Heavyweight title. However, that notion was quickly snuffed with a pair of consecutive losses to Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem. Now Arlovski’s stepping into the octagon in an effort to stay relevant in the UFC against a fighter who is hoping to do the same. Arlovski is coming in as the underdog but not by much, the sportsbooks have him listed at +120 odds compared to Barnett’s -140. While Arlovski found early success in his return to the UFC, the same cannot be said about his opponent.
Barnett has an impressive record in MMA coming in at 34-8. But since he returned to the UFC in 2013 ‘The Warmaster’ has not been able to find any sort of consistency. His record, since his return, is currently 3-2 most recently losing to Ben Rothwell via Rothwell’s famous gogo choke. This was in January however, and once Barnett steps into the octagon in September he’ll be out to prove that his MMA career is still alive and kicking.
Interestingly enough both of these fighters were scheduled to face each other at Affliction roughly 8 years ago. Now it seems fans will get to see the fight nearly a decade in the making.
